United States President Joe Biden speaks prior to signing an executive order in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC on Friday, July 9, 2021.
Alex Edelmann | CNP | Bloomberg | Getty Images
President Joe Biden announced the names of four new candidates on Friday to serve as US ambassadors to nations such as France, India, Bangladesh and Chile, the White House said in a press release.
Biden will appoint Denise Campbell Bauer as his ambassador to France and Monaco. Bauer was reportedly a key fundraiser for former President Barack Obama, serving as U.S. ambassador to Belgium between 2013 and the end of Obama’s last term in his administration.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti was officially listed in the press release as Biden’s intended candidate for US Ambassador to India. Outlets, including NBC News, reported back in May that Garcetti would be nominated for the post.
Peter Haas, a career member of the Foreign Ministry’s senior foreign service, has been selected as Biden’s ambassador to Bangladesh. Haas, who speaks French and German, was the head of the US Consulate General in Mumbai, India.
Biden will also appoint Bernadette Meehan, currently director of the Obama Foundation’s global programs, as his ambassador to Chile. Meehan has more than a decade of experience as a field officer and previously served as a spokesperson for the National Security Council.
The recent nominees reflect Biden’s penchant for selecting officials with sufficient experience in relevant institutions, unlike his predecessor, former President Donald Trump, who selected many individuals with limited experience in government for key roles.
Biden’s selection for the role of ambassador must be confirmed by the Senate. More than 80 of the president’s candidates have been ratified by the Senate, according to The Washington Post, while the chamber is currently considering about 160 more.
